Work Conversations

I'm very lucky that where I work, there is a group of people who eat lunch together everyday who have welcomed me into their fold. They are very nice and I have someone to eat with rather than sitting alone in the corner, which would do wonders for my adoptee self-esteem issue. I've gotten to know some of these people pretty well, and it fluctuates every day.

This week, we actually went out for lunch one day, but there were only three of us. So it was a small outing, but totally fun because we got to eat nice food rather than cafeteria food, and it was overall a good time. Both of my co-workers are a lot older than I but look very young for their ages. We started talking about it and sure enough the conversation turns to genetics and how their parents looked young so now they do.

I took a deep breath when it was my turn and said "Well, I have two sets of parents, because I was adopted. My biological parents are young but I think they look younger than they are. Then again, maybe that’s because there is a ten year age difference between them and my adoptive parents." Rather than awkward silence, I was met by "Wow, that's interesting" and then a story. Turns out my male co-worker's wife just found out last month she has a half sister. Big ugly family secret just came out around when I was starting my job and turns out their family is going through the whole "Dirty Secret" thing too! The woman's story was a bit different (she wasn't an adoptee, just only raised by one parent) but the whole reunion thing was all too familiar. Apparently the woman and her three half-sisters are now friends on Facebook and talk on the phone but haven't met.

Once again, I'm amazed at how it really is EVERYWHERE! You never know who has a story like that to tell. And it was nice to know that at least two of my coworkers didn't judge. You learn something new everyday...